• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.90-98
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• 2009

Every spring, Korea is always plagued by sandy dust from the western region of China and Mongolia. Yellow sand is causing an environmental problem to Japan and far into the American continent, let alone Korea. At present, the western region of China is going under desertification at a great speed due to climatic change and humans' damaging activities. To cope with this, each country including China is considering ecological restoration of deserts through planting. Accordingly, this research conducted a vegetation survey on Baicheng district which is a representative dry land of western China to obtain a basic data for ecological restoration of a desert. The survey revealed that Setaria viridis which invaded an arid land made a succession into Setaria viridis-Cannabis sativa var. fruderalis community together with Artemisia mongolica-Setaria viridis community due to the increase in salt concentration and alkalization subsequent to dryness. It was also found out that there finally formed Artemisia mongolica community on a flat intense in harsh wind and dryness with the continuous worsening of environmental conditions. There appeared a different type of vegetation on hilly districts where sporadic shade could come into being because the air humidity could be available relatively there. Frequently, typically appearing at the whole survey area, the Tributlus terrestris community was found to make succession into Tribulus terrestris-Cleisrogenes squarrosa community due to the aggravation of soil environment. In addition, with the worsening of the environment at hilly districts, there formed Clesirogenes squarrosa community resistant to dryness, salinity in soil and strong alkalinity. Further, there appeared higher plant life totalling to 62 taxa comprising 58 species and 4 varieties with 27 families and 49 genuses at the whole survey area. Among these, Compositae plants excellent in resistance to environment was surveyed the most, accounting for 27%.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.354-364
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• 2020

This study was conducted to examine the potential of inducing salinity stress on cylindrical paper pot tomato seedlings to inhibit overgrowth. Potassium fertilizers, sulfate of potash (K₂SO₄), muriate of potash (KCl), and monopotassium phosphate (KH₂PO₄), were prepared as two solutions of (5 and 10) dS·m^-1 salinity level, respectively, to investigate the influence on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedling growth. We also investigated the adaptability and survivability of treated tomato seedlings with high-salinity potassium (10 dS·m^-1 KCl) to harsh environmental conditions (water deficit, low temperature, and storage conditions). Repeated addition of high-salinity level KCl, K₂SO₄, or KH₂PO₄ markedly decreased the dry matter of shoot and root, leaf area, and net assimilate rates (NAR) but increased the stem diameter of seedlings. Among the three sources, the relative growth rate of plant height (RGR_H) was most sensitive to KCl addition; increasing salinity levels of KCl solution decreased the RGR_H of seedlings. The compactness, which directly reflects the stocky growth index, increased in KCl or KH₂PO₄ treatments. After a week's water deficit, severely wilted seedlings were observed in control seedlings (untreated with KCl), but no wilted seedlings were observed in the KCl treated seedlings, and the relative water content (RWC) of the untreated seedlings significantly decreased by 23 %, while that of the pretreated seedlings only decreased by 8 %. The increase in ion leakage of KCl treated seedlings at low temperatures was less than that of untreated seedlings. Furthermore, there was far lower damage proportion on pretreated seedlings at (9, 12, and 15)℃ storage temperatures after 20 days, compared with on unpretreated seedlings. Our results suggest that high-salinity potassium fertilizer, especially KCl, is effective in preventing tomato seedling overgrowth, while it also improves tolerance.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2015

Sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] grows well in harsh environmental conditions, and is cultivated as one of the top seven food crops in the world. Recently, sweetpotato is drawing interest from people as a healthy food because it is high in dietary fiber, vitamins, carotenoids and overall nutrition value. However, few studies have been conducted on sweetpotato genome sequencing in spite of its importance. This review is aimed at increasing the efficiency of sweetpotato genome sequencing research as well as establishing a base for gene utilization in order to control useful traits. Recently, animal and plant genome sequencing projects increased significantly. However, sweetpotato genome sequencing has not been performed due to polyploidy and heterogeneity problems in its genome. Meanwhile research on its transcriptome has been conducted actively. Recently, a draft of the diploid sweetpotato genome was reported in 2015 by Japanese researchers. In addition, the Korea-China-Japan Trilateral Research Association of Sweetpotato (TRAS) has conducted research on gene map construction and genome sequencing of the hexaploid sweetpotato Xushu 18 since 2014. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched the 'sweetpotato genomic sequencing to develop genomic tools for Sub-Sahara Africa breeding program'. The chloroplast genome sequence acquired during sweetpotato genome sequencing is used in evolutionary analyses. In this review, the trend of research in the sweetpotato genome sequencing was analyzed. Research trend analysis like this will provide researchers working toward sweetpotato productivity and nutrient improvement with information on the status of sweetpotato genome research. This will contribute to solving world food, energy and environmental problems.